Book Review: Providence by Caroline Kepnes
I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.
Mogsy’s Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Genre: Mystery, Paranormal
Series: Stand Alone
Publisher: Lenny (June 19, 2018)
Length: 400 pages
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Providence is a very tough book to categorize, and as such, it probably won’t be for everyone. It’s also the perfect example of never judging a book by its cover. Talk about a complete failure to give the reader any idea of what to expect. The more I look at this unassuming cover, the more dissatisfied I feel towards with it, due to how much it undersells the singular and unusual nature of the story within.
The plot of this novel spans quite a few years, following the perspectives of three main characters. Two of them are introduced right away, as we begin the tale in a small quiet town in New Hampshire where middle school students Jon and Chloe grew up as childhood friends. Despite being very different—Jon is the weird and geeky outcast who is ostracized by the other kids at school, while Chloe is pretty and popular—they share a love and understanding only the two of them can show each other. And then one day, Jon goes missing, turning Chloe’s world upside down. For the next four years, she tries hard to keep the faith, believing that her friend is still alive and will come home soon. But after a while, even the strongest hope starts to fade, and in high school, Chloe finally decides it’s time to move on and live her life. The memory of Jon, however, is never far from her mind.
Then, a miracle happens. Jon suddenly resurfaces, shocking the country when he reveals the truth of where he’d been. Kidnapped by an eccentric substitute teacher with an obsession with H.P. Lovecraft, Jon had been imprisoned in a basement since the day we went missing, kept hidden and immobile in a comatose state. But one day, Jon simply woke up, with only a copy of The Dunwich Horror for a clue as to what his abductor did to him, for Jon has become a different person in more ways than anyone can imagine. All grown up now, Jon finds himself in an older, bigger body that is completely unfamiliar to him, but it also appears he has emerged from his ordeal with a terrible power he cannot control. It seems that being in close proximity to anyone he has intense feelings for will inevitably make them go into cardiac arrest, killing them, causing Jon to withdraw from those he cares about. But of course, since he has told no one the truth, that only causes confusion and pain to his family and friends, especially to Chloe, who can’t understand why her old friend has become so distant and cold.
Skip ahead a few years later, and Chloe has become a famous artist while Jon has become a recluse, trying to rid himself of his curse by embarking on a personal mission to track down the man who kidnapped him. But try as he might to keep a low profile, over the years Jon has accidently caused a number of fatal premature heart attacks, catching the attention of a local detective. As the novel’s third POV, Eggs has been obsessively tracking these mysterious deaths for years, and a recent break in the case has given him a new perspective and idea on where to look.
Needless to say, Providence is full of surprises, and not least of them is the strong connection to Lovecraft and his works. Not being familiar with The Dunwich Horror at all, I can’t say for sure how much it inspired this story or whether Caroline Kepnes intended this to be a retelling of sorts, but it is referenced time and time again and becomes important to the character of Jon. Additionally, as with a lot of books containing a Lovecraftian angle, the story gets a little weird, though this merely reaffirms my belief that Kepnes understands what Lovecraft is all about. There was even a particular section, in which Eggs’ wife Lo the English professor tries to explain to her clueless husband why Lovecraft is such a big deal, that made me nod my head as I read a long and think to myself, YES, YES TO ALL OF THIS. While the man has been a controversial figure in life and in death, the ideas and motifs in his writings have resonated throughout literature, especially with the horror community. And of course, because you can’t explore Lovecraft without acknowledging the passionate fanbase, I loved that Providence also included a fascinating look at the subculture of Lovecraft conventions and fandom.
Now, with regards to what I didn’t like so much, my main criticism goes back to my point about this book being difficult to classify. In a way, it’s a little bit of everything: mystery, thriller, romance, horror, contemporary, fantasy—and I’m probably missing a few other labels besides. The point is, it doesn’t fit neatly into any category, and as a result, sometimes things can feel a little messy. Also, if you’re the kind of reader who needs answers, then this not a book for you. There are a lot of things that don’t get explained, so be prepared to go in with realistic expectations and a willingness to roll with the punches. And finally, I never felt truly connected with Jon’s plight with Chloe, because it seemed like so much of his heartbreak was brought on by himself. Well, what do you expect when you run off on someone without a single word of explanation? I feel like so much of the drama could have been avoided if Jon had simply told Chloe the truth (or even just a plausible excuse) from the beginning, especially since such a big deal was made over their super close friendship.
Like I said, Providence won’t be for everyone, and I must admit to feeling a bit torn on it myself. However, if you’re in the mood for a novel that’s a little offbeat and different, this one certainly fits the bill. An interesting read for sure, and perfect for anyone looking for something completely unique and outside the box.
Wonderful review! I am in the middle of this right now, not sure as to what I think quite yet!💜
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It’s a strange one. And it just gets more bizarre!
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Yeah that cover tells me pretty much nothing about it, and hence it slipped right under my radar until I saw bloggers talking about it. The Lovecraft angle has me curious, I must say, and the bit about exploring the fandom or Lovecraft subculture sounds super interesting too, but I often don’t get on well with books that don’t provide answers. 🙂 So this one might be a problem for me ha ha. Nice to know though, so thanks for the thorough review.
I guess I’ll have top think about this one a bit more lol. It does sound really hard to categorize/ evaluate.
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It really is a horrible cover, in that it tells you absolutely nothing! Aesthetically, it’s fine…I just wish such a unique book had a cover that matched it. And I definitely feel that no book with a Lovecraft connection can be truly complete without a look at its fandom 😀
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I was curious about this one myself. I had heard a few rave reviews over her first book You and decided I wanted to give that one a try. I still need to read that too! Lol! I thought this one sounded interesting with the supposed paranormal element. I might have to look back at it once I get around to reading her first books to see if I like her overall style. Glad you enjoyed this one in part though! Nice review!
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I’ve heard so much about the first book since this one came out. I confess I’m really curious about it now!
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A communication fail. That would make me rage against this book. Sigh…
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I know, it just tells you absolutely nothing!!! I bet when this one goes to paperback, it’ll get a new cover.
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I would hope so.
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I had really planned on skipping this until I heard Books in the Freezer talking about it on their podcast. I like offbeat and different so maybe it will work for me. However, after reading your review, it is one I’ll see if my library will get and skip purchasing it for myself.
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Offbeat is the perfect way to describe this one. Definitely one to pick up if you enjoy outside-the-box reads!
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When I heard this was a Lovecraft inspired story, the cover had me stratching my head in confusion. The two just can’t come together in my brain! Although your description of the story makes me want to try it…
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I know, it’s such a shame. When I see that cover, I think contemporary fiction. Or possibly YA romance. I guess they wanted to give the impression of a chase?
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Great review. Mine will be up today!
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I saw it, excellent review!
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Great review! I am really terrible at judging books by their covers….lol.
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In this case, not your fault! It really is poorly suited to the story 😛
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ah yes covers can be tricky sometimes. It looks a bit complicated to tell in which genre it is as well
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I wonder if that’s why the cover is so…blah. I think anyone would have a tough time designing a cover to go with this book with its strange mix of genres.
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The lack of answers might very well work in favor of this story, since I don’t enjoy books where at the end we are treated with long, convoluted explanations that ultimately destroy the “magic” of the mystery, and the reference to Lovecraft has more than piqued my curiosity… 🙂 I have to agree with you on the cover, though: it does not seem to fit the subject matter.
Very intriguing, thanks for sharing!
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Ah, if you enjoy some ambiguity to prolong the “magic”, then this might work for you. I thought it was done well too, just enough to stir the imagination, but still give a good/decent ending 🙂
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I agree with your critique there. I usually get annoyed by stories that do not give me answers but with this I was so swept up in the story and tension between Jon and Chloe and Eggs and the case he chases that I didn’t mind. I also didn’t sympathize much with Jon. Though Jon is the protag, my attention was focused on Eggs and I returned to the story mostly to read about him.
Yea, totally agree that there’s a bunch of genres rolled up in this one.
I like the design of the cover, but yeah, it does nothing for the story.
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Good description, this was definitely a book that swept me away. Eggs was so awesome, I really wanted more of his chapters. Jon though, he was just whiny 😀
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Great review! I really like the idea of the synopsis, but yeah, I do wonder why the dude simply couldn’t tell his loved ones what had happened to him and why he was staying away; that’s a bit of plot hole I think. 😂
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It would have saved him a lot of heartbreak! But of course, then there would also be no story, lol!
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lol that’s very true!
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Not for everyone, hmm, well honestly I can say a book is so for me, or so not for me, but I never know before I actually dare to try (which is why I have liked a lot of YA lately lol)
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Yeah, I don’t let anything scare me off, as long as I’m interested! I mean, I might find that it is the wrong decision afterward, but I never regret trying 🙂
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I started reading this one, and I admit I’m a little nervous about how I’m going to take to it. I think I’m going to clear a couple of things off my plate and then pick it back up.
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It’s definitely one of those books that require your full attention. Not in the sense that it’s a “heavy” kind of book because it’s not, but it’s easier to get on board with the story if you’re feeling more centered 🙂
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I like book covers to reflect what the book is about so I have a clue what to expect. Covers like this are hopeless if backed up by a vague blurb-that really is a pet hate of mine!
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I’m with you! A cover is a book’s first shot at giving the reader a good impression. It should reflect what the kind of story it contains 🙂
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Not sure about this one – in some respects I like the idea but I don’t the appeal is strong enough and that cover would not have pulled me in.
Lynn 😀
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I was about to dismiss the book at first glance too, even though I read the synopsis. It was a more detailed review that eventually changed my mind and made me curious to read it!
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